Tower Of God: Life As Hoaqin

"Assess the situation! What the hell just happened?!"

The Vice Commander's face was, as usual, expressionless—but now it was slightly more distorted than normal.

Which meant he was quite shaken.

And understandably so.

While they were preparing to bombard the battlefield after ascending in altitude under the orders of the temporary commander Hoaquin, something purple suddenly flew toward them—and the next moment, the entire fleet had been transported somewhere else.

"Current location! We are 3,000 km away from the Hong Family's village! Both the 1st and 2nd Divisions have been forcibly transferred here!"

"What in the world… Can we contact the temporary commander?"

"Communication is possible, but the temporary commander is not responding!"

"Activate the warp device immediately. We return to the front line as fast as possible. Inform the 2nd Division as well."

"Yes, sir!"

Vice Commander could not hide the sense of crisis.

As far as he knew, the boy named Arie Hoaquin was somewhat known within the Zahard royal family and military.

A Regular who had passed the Trial of Hon, which had not seen a successful candidate in thousands of years.

And because information about the absurd nature of that test had leaked outside, rumors had spread.

That he was stronger than Rankers.

That he had defeated High Rankers.

Most soldiers of Zahard's army dismissed those rumors as nonsense.

But now—

He understood.

Just how absurd Hoaquin truly was.

However, this time even Hoaquin had limits.

According to Level 3 classified intelligence, the Ancient Species revived by Leruie was identified as Heukrin.

Among the Ancient Species, it was one of the primordial beings, alongside the Native One, that had existed since the earliest times of the Tower.

It was one of the most savage entities during the war between the Ancient Species and the Great Adventurers.

In particular, the Arie Family had suffered enormous losses fighting Heukrin.

According to the records, the Head of the Arie Family personally intervened, battling it for half a day before finally driving it away.

There was one more Level 2 classified record about Heukrin.

But even with the authority of a Vice Commander, He was not permitted to access it.

So he abandoned the attempt.

In any case—

This was a creature that had fought Arie Hon himself for half a day.

Even if Hoaquin truly possessed power surpassing High Rankers, it would not be easy for him to deal with.

And the Ancient Species wasn't the only problem.

Leruie, the most dangerous organization since FUG's disappearance, was also gathered there.

The Hong Family village had become a den of monsters.

Coldly speaking—

By the time they returned, the chances that Hoaquin would still be alive were slim.

Even so—

Even if he was only a temporary commander, he was still their superior.

If he was in danger, it was the duty of a subordinate—and the honor of a soldier of Zahard's army—to do everything possible to help.

More importantly—

Those within the royal family who knew Hoaquin regarded him as "Maschenny Zahard's most favored subordinate."

And He thought the same.

If Hoaquin were to die there and Maschenny Zahard held them responsible—

That would cause serious problems.

Which meant they had no choice but to give their absolute best.

"The 3rd and 4th Divisions of the 3rd Army Corps will reach the village soon!"

"Once they arrive, confirm the survival of Temporary Commander Arie Hoaquin immediately. If he is engaged in battle, provide maximum support. We will also return to the village as quickly as possible."

"Yes, sir!"

Even after giving the order, His expression did not improve.

Aside from Hoaquin's safety—

The outcome of this war itself did not look promising.

Even if they returned, they could not defeat the Ancient Species.

They probably couldn't even capture Leruie's leader.

After all—

More than 80% of a corps' combat power came from a single individual.

"The Corps Commander…"

The Commander of the 3rd Army Corps.

He was the key to this war.

If he arrived early, they could win.

If he was late—

Then at the very least, the Arie boy left alone in that village would not meet a good end.

....

Drip.

"...…"

It hurts.

I can endure it.

But it still hurts.

Over the past 150 years climbing the Tower, I've suffered countless injuries.

Cut by swords, spears, and needles.

Beaten, stabbed, bones broken.

Struck by unknown sorcery.

Hit directly by shinsoo attacks.

But those injuries were always temporary.

Sometimes wounds regenerated fast enough to see with the naked eye.

Even the worst injuries healed after a few days of rest.

But this time—

It was different.

Drip.

Even now, a large amount of red blood continued to pour out.

The strange, alien feeling of something that should be there… missing.

My arm wasn't cleanly severed.

It had been violently torn off by the Maw, which made the pain even worse.

If the cut had been clean, maybe it could be reattached…

Ah.

The Maw just swallowed my arm.

Yeah.

Now it's completely impossible.

Haha.

"Hm… A swordsman losing an arm. Even if you're an Arie, things will be easier from here on."

Cough, cough—

Asinus, coughing up black blood from the critical wound I inflicted on him, sneered at my condition.

A fatal wound versus losing an arm.

I didn't know which was worse.

But one thing was clear—

My attack had definitely hit him hard.

The problem now was…

How do I fight like this?

Damn it.

It hurts so much.

It's getting worse.

What's wrong with this?

"Baekya… can you regenerate my arm or something?"

[…]

No answer.

It definitely heard me.

So why the silence?

Just as I was about to ask again, Asinus spoke.

"Even now that creature is monstrous, yet it is still incomplete. When it absorbs the remaining soul you possess, it will become the final piece that perfects it."

"Even in its incomplete state it's already that insane… haha…"

I couldn't help laughing.

If I hadn't bought Narmada at that auction long ago, the Ancient Species would have been resurrected perfectly.

The butterfly effect really was terrifying.

But Asinus shook his head, clearly unimpressed.

"The one above the sky is still weak."

"It is not the absolute power I seek."

"So your goal is to gather all those monsters?"

"To wage all-out war against the Ten Great Families, including my father?"

"…If necessary, yes."

"..."

I sighed softly.

Even FUG cannot compete with the Ten Great Families and the royal family.

Yet this mere offshoot organization thinks it can?

Asinus seemed to read my thoughts and smiled bitterly.

Then suddenly—

He stabbed his scythe into the ground.

"…What are you doing?"

"…For some reason, I feel like talking with you a little longer."

"After all, aren't we both successful candidates of the Trial of Hon?"

"Arie Hoaquin."

"The most recent Regular to pass the Trial of Hon."

"…Now that you mention it, I vaguely remember hearing that name."

I cut him off and spoke based on what I remembered hearing from my father.

"The kingdom found peace—but only briefly. It collapsed because of internal strife and an invasion by the Khun Family, right?"

"…How do you know that…?"

"My father told me about it."

Asinus stared blankly, as if he had been struck in the head with a hammer.

Then suddenly he began chuckling.

Before long, he was laughing uncontrollably.

Only after some time did the madness and hysterical laughter finally subside.

"Heh… how unexpected."

"That Hon remembered that… and even told you. Truly unexpected."

"Yes. Everything you heard is correct."

"But my father said that prince died."

"Just before the Khun Family executed me, I managed to escape."

"They used a double. For a long time, the Tower believed I was dead."

"When the Ranking Administration eventually discovered I was alive… it seems Hon had no interest in me whatsoever. Judging by how the records were never updated."

After a short pause, Asinus suddenly asked:

"Hoaquin, why are you fighting me here?"

"You're a direct descendant of one of the Ten Families. This village doesn't seem particularly important to you."

"Are you trying to protect innocent villagers?"

"Haha. The villagers?"

"I don't care what happens to them."

"But I owe a friend who lives here."

"So I'll help as much as I can."

"And fighting you… is a kind of warning."

"A warning?"

"To guild leaders, organization heads, FUG Slayers or Elders—even the Ten Families."

"A warning that anyone who touches my people will die."

"It's like an unspoken message to the entire Tower."

"The safety and happiness of my people—that's my goal."

"So… how's that for an answer?"

Asinus smiled gently.

"You're like me."

But when he continued speaking, a trace of sadness appeared in his expression.

"Returning the Tower to the primordial age, when the Ancient Species ruled before Zahard and the Ten Families."

"That is the official goal I proclaimed to the followers of Leruie."

"Overthrowing Zahard and the Ten Families."

"That is the grudge shared by me and the cult."

"Breaking the curse Zahard placed upon the Ancient Species."

"That is the contract we made with the Ancient Ones who stand with us."

"They all sound grand."

"But in truth—"

"I have no passion for any of them."

"…?"

"Then why form a cult? Why go through all this trouble?"

Asinus answered with a bright smile.

"…For family."

"For the one precious family member I have left."

"My sister… Illensia."

"…No. I suppose now she's a Khun."

The surname change.

His only sister.

I could roughly guess what had happened.

Asinus nodded slightly, as if confirming my thoughts.

"My sister wanted to be like me."

"She wanted to become a hero who would save our collapsing kingdom."

"So she made a sacrifice."

"She became—almost by force—the concubine of Khun Eduan."

"The Khun Family proposed it."

"If my sister became Eduan's concubine, they would not invade our kingdom."

"So she sacrificed herself."

"But Eduan… was very different from Hon."

"..."

I understood the implication behind those words.

So I stayed silent and simply listened.

"I still remember those peaceful days in the kingdom."

"Walking through the garden with my sister, carrying snacks."

"It's too late to return to that time."

"But surely… reclaiming one thing isn't too much to ask."

"I will pull my sister out of that hell."

Shuuuuu—

Shinsu began gathering around Asinus.

While he had been speaking, I had managed to stop my bleeding.

With my remaining hand, I gripped my sword with all my strength.

Asinus's shadow slowly expanded.

Inside it, the creature that tore off my arm swam leisurely.

Its eyes gleamed as it stared hungrily at the rest of my body.

"I have no intention of achieving some grand cause."

"All I want is to reclaim happiness with my family."

"You asked earlier whether I would wage war against the Ten Families."

"Yes."

"If necessary, I will."

"Not to kill the Ten Families."

"But to save my family."

"And for that, I need power."

"And to obtain that power—"

A massive scythe appeared in his hand again.

He raised it high and swung down.

"To gain that power, I have no choice but to kill you here and take Narmada."

BOOOOOOM—

A massive pitch-black slash tore through everything in its path and rushed toward me.

I swung Baekya with all my strength to counter.

But unlike before, when our attacks had been evenly matched—

The situation was far worse.

He kept pressing his attacks relentlessly.

Meanwhile I struggled just to stabilize my stance and block his blows.

Damn it.

Without enough strength, every clash of our weapons shook my balance.

And without one arm, it was far harder to regain that balance.

Woooooom—

"…!"

Something moved beneath the shadow.

I knew exactly what it was.

So I immediately stepped back.

Sure enough—

A gigantic Maw burst out of the spot where I had been standing moments earlier and snapped at empty air.

Then—

Eight more glowing eyes appeared inside the shadows.

Woooooom—

Woooooom—

Woooooom—

Woooooom—

"…You've got to be kidding me."

Not one.

Multiple.

From the four directions—east, west, north, south—

Four enormous Maws swam through the shadows and lunged at me.

"Baekya, ignition!"

WHOOOOOOSH—

Baekya erupted with blazing light.

The light spread in all directions.

The shadows melted away instantly.

The Maws hidden within them vanished in the radiance.

But just before they disappeared—

They spat something out.

Figures shaped like Asinus, wrapped in shadow.

Like shadow clones, four dark versions of Asinus rushed toward me.

Shinsu White Wings — Defense Mode

My white wings spread wide, about to envelop my entire body—

But just before they closed—

The shadow Asinus figures swung their scythes from all four directions.

Killing Technique — Vier Lebensrettende Schatten

Slash—

....

…From somewhere strange—

I heard an angry woman's voice.

Sharp.

Interrogative.

Each word felt as if it was being delivered directly into my mind.

[...Hey! Wake up! If you fall asleep now, who knows when you'll wake up?! Damn it, this is exactly why I said we shouldn't fight this time! You haven't even finished digesting that power yet!]

"…Baekya?"

[Oh, you're awake? Get up already! Either run away or fight! No—wait, don't fight! If you fight in that condition, you'll really die.]

"…Haha, even if you say that…"

I can't put any strength into my body.

My vision is blurry on one side.

Did my eye get cut?

What am I supposed to tell Maschenny…

Maybe I should say I was just doing pirate cosplay.

My eye's slashed anyway, so I can wear an eyepatch, and if I attach a hook where my arm got cut off—

Captain Hook…

…Wait, what the hell am I even saying right now?

Anyway, in this state I can neither run nor fight again.

"Baekya… you really can't regenerate my arm or something?"

[…That's…]

Baekya's voice suddenly became faint.

Did my body just move?

But I didn't move it.

Then who—

"…Where did you hide it."

"…Ah."

Asinus lifted me up by the collar.

His eyes burned with killing intent.

My pocket inventory lay scattered around him.

Was he looking for Narmada?

"…Haha, I can't even move anymore. You don't have to glare at me so frighteningly…"

Stab—

Stab—

Stab—

"Ugh…"

Three shadow tendrils shot out from Asinus's shadow and pierced my shoulders and stomach, pinning me in midair.

Getting stabbed is something I'm pretty used to by now.

So while enduring the pain, I examined my condition.

Two deep wounds carved into my body.

My arm still torn off.

My left eye…

Did that last slash cut it?

Damn that useless Floor 128 Administrator.

Isn't this negligence?

Whatever the reason for just watching the fight—

I'm going to hate him forever.

If there was any consolation, it was that Asinus wasn't in good shape either.

His neck had been deeply cut, and he was covering the wound with some kind of item.

Even then it looked like nothing more than crude first aid.

"Where did you hide it? I asked you."

"Where is Narmada? Why don't you have it?"

"I can clearly sense the fragment of Narmada's soul inside you."

"…Heh. Didn't Hong Ryuhwa tell you?"

"I already ate it, soul and all, a long time ago."

"…What?"

I licked my lips as if savoring a delicious meal and sneered.

Sorry.

Your Narmada has already been repurposed.

As my snack.

For a moment Asinus looked over my body with a blank face.

Then his teeth ground together.

"So… you've been playing with me this whole time—"

"No. Actually, I'm the one at fault."

"I made assumptions without even asking."

"Haha. I like how quickly you admit it."

"…."

With a dry laugh, Asinus suddenly grabbed my throat and squeezed hard.

Ugh—can't breathe.

"Since you had to die anyway… I'll use your entire body as a ritual sacrifice."

"After all, you said the soul is inside your body, didn't you?"

"Well… technically that's true."

"But can you actually do that?"

"You'd have to carry me all the way back to the ritual circle."

"Hah. You can't even fight or run anymore, yet you're still bluffing?"

While Asinus mocked my battered state—my arm torn off, one eye slashed—

My focus was elsewhere.

The last move I could use.

"…Don't tell me—"

Asinus sensed something wrong and tried to throw me away.

But my arm moved faster.

Thud.

My remaining arm shot forward and grabbed the arm that was choking me.

The Ancient One that had taken my arm stirred inside Asinus's body.

Asinus hurriedly grabbed his scythe and swung it at me.

But again—

I was faster.

KIIIIING—

"…!"

Suddenly Asinus's movements froze.

Even the Ancient One inside him stopped.

His body was made of shadow.

Normally, stopping it with remote reverse flow control was impossible because it had no fixed form.

But if our bodies were in direct contact—

Then I could interfere directly with the flow of shinsu inside him.

I forced his unstable shadow form into a fixed state.

SHHH—

Baekya, now one with me, instantly appeared in my hand in response to my will.

The surroundings darkened.

My body gradually turned white.

"What trick is this—!"

By the time Asinus regained movement—

My sword was already moving.

The surroundings had become so dark that shadows could no longer exist.

And within that darkness—

I alone shone as the only light.

As I swung the sword down, I spoke the command.

"Fall into dusk—Absolute Night."

At that moment—

Eternal darkness descended.

....

"Hah… hah… hah…!"

Stagger—

Using Absolute Night by force caused the backlash of accumulated fatigue and injuries to hit me all at once.

I nearly collapsed, barely managing to stay upright by stabbing Baekya into the ground like a cane.

But even that didn't last long.

My legs gave out, and I fell to the ground.

Still—

Compared to the other guy, I had it easy.

I looked at Asinus lying in front of me.

"..."

He was completely collapsed.

Covered in fatal wounds.

Barely breathing.

"…Sleeping?"

"..."

Of course, there was no answer.

Ah… I'm exhausted.

But I finally won.

Asinus was strong.

The strongest opponent I've ever fought.

Well, except for Uncle Ha Jinsung.

But that fight ended in one hit, so it doesn't count.

Anyway—

If Asinus hadn't lost his composure looking for Narmada at the end, I wouldn't have been able to use Absolute Night at all.

I got arrogant after successfully merging with Baekya.

The power I gained was explosive.

But explosive compared to before doesn't mean overwhelming the entire Tower.

On top of that, too much power had flooded in at once.

I hadn't even finished digesting it yet.

And because I forced the fusion while Baekya wasn't ready, the side effect was overwhelming drowsiness.

More than anything—

I had the power.

But I didn't yet know how to use it properly.

So that's why that Guardian old man kept nagging me about power control.

At first I thought it was pointless.

Well…

I can figure that out later.

After this is over.

More importantly—

I'm still a Regular.

Which means I still have plenty of opportunities.

After setting a few goals in my mind, I lay on the ground for a moment catching my breath.

Then I slowly got up and looked around.

My white clothes were stained red with blood.

Asinus and I stood at the center of a massive crater created by Absolute Night.

Asinus still hadn't moved.

Looking at him, I realized this wasn't exactly a refreshing victory.

With my body in this condition, calling it a perfect victory felt… questionable.

I gently touched the spot where my left arm used to be.

And sighed.

A prosthetic arm might solve that problem.

But my eye…

My left eye, cut by Asinus's slash.

Earlier it was blurry but I could still see shapes.

Now—

I couldn't see anything.

Would it regenerate?

Does the Tower sell artificial eyes that let you see?

Click.

Letting out another faint sigh, I sheathed Baekya and looked up at the sky.

Because the Ancient One was still out there.

Did Zahard's army get wiped out?

I hope this doesn't put Maschenny in a difficult position.

Anyway, this wasn't the time for self-pity.

Maschenny…

Ah, seriously, what am I supposed to tell her?

Scratching my head, I pushed those thoughts aside and started moving again.

Honestly, all my strength was gone.

My body felt like I could collapse any second.

But still—

The Zahard army up there were technically my subordinates, even if only temporarily.

So I had to save as many of them as I could.

To protect Maschenny's reputation as well.

Flap—

I spread my shinsu wings and was about to fly upward—

Then I suddenly stopped.

"…?"

I felt a presence above the crater.

And unfortunately for me—

It wasn't a good one.

Shhh—

In the next moment, groups of black-robed figures appeared all around the crater.

"Th-the Master… lost?"

"Move the Master to a safe place!"

"That bastard…"

Dozens—no, hundreds—of Leruie cultists surrounded the massive crater.

Every one of them stared at me with eyes full of shock and killing intent.

"G…gh…"

"Master! Are you conscious?!"

At last, Asinus regained consciousness as well, clutching his head.

He looked like he didn't even have the strength to stand.

Still, he lifted a trembling finger and pointed at me.

"…That boy… that boy is Narmada itself."

"Don't kill him. Capture him somehow."

"He must be used as a sacrifice for the ritual."

Cough, cough…

Protected by the cultists, Asinus was carried away beyond the crater.

In his place—

The furious members of Leruie filled the area.

Among the black-robed figures, one with slightly more ornate decorations stepped forward and pointed at me.

"As the Master ordered, we must bring him back alive."

"But there is no need to show mercy."

"As long as he remains alive, nothing else matters."

"Understood."

All the Rankers and High Rankers of Leruie began gathering shinsu and drawing out their abilities.

Dozens.

Hundreds.

Rankers.

And here I was—

With no strength left at all.

In this hopeless situation, I simply gripped Baekya.

Because in the end—

All I could do was swing my sword.

"Try it if you can."

"As you wish."

The robed man answered calmly and gestured with his hand.

At once—

Every cultist of Leruie charged toward me.

At the same time, I planted my feet firmly and swung my sword with everything I had left.

BOOOOOOM—

A massive slash shot toward them.

But because I only had one arm, my balance faltered slightly and the trajectory twisted.

Slash—

I corrected the arc and cut through several enemies.

Then immediately prepared the next strike.

I shifted my stance—front foot back, rear foot forward—

And just as I was about to swing again—

I felt something inside me snap.

…Ah.

Damn it.

My body was already falling toward the ground.

I had forced myself past the limits of my stamina and mind.

But even that overextended limit had finally broken.

My vision blurred.

I looked back and forth between the ground rushing up to meet me and the Rankers charging toward me.

Once I collapsed and lost consciousness—

They would take me away and perform their ritual or whatever.

At least they said they wouldn't kill me.

Maybe I could cling to that hope—

Ah…

I've reached my limit.

That last slash had drained the very last of my strength.

My body collapsed.

Thud—

"…?"

But my falling body suddenly stopped.

As if time itself had frozen.

The Leruie cultists charging toward me had also stopped moving.

I didn't know what had happened.

But whatever was holding me felt warm.

Then—

In the sudden silence—

A familiar voice echoed.

One I had missed.

"You're dead later."

"…Ah."

"So it was you."

Only then did I notice the pale hand supporting my body.

When I raised my head slightly—

I saw her.

The same cold, sharp eyes as always.

"I'm… going to take a nap, Maschenny…"

"Sorry for dumping this on you…"

"…."

As my fading consciousness slipped away, the last thing I saw was her raising a blue electric sphere to her mouth.

Above us—

A vast field of purple lighthouses spread across the sky.

The black dragon roared in pain.

Floating warships and vessels bearing the Red Three-Eyed emblem warped into the battlefield one after another.

CRACK—ZZZT—

Dozens of lightning spears formed in the air—

And fell upon the enemies without the slightest mercy.